Fire Insurance Claims: Help & Tips You Should Consider After The Fire

By: Joe Brennan


Almost everyone who has suffered damages to their property as a result of a fire insurance claim makes costly mistakes during and after the settlement... And, here it is; Most policyholders simply rely on their insurance company to evaluate the entire claim. This can be the most costly mistake anyone could ever make in their entire life.

As if it's not bad enough that your property was destroyed by fire, to then rely on someone else - who is not really there for you - to visit the property, inspect the damages, generate PROPER value, and then completely trust that they have your best interest in mind... Is Simply I N S A N I T Y ! Yet, we see policyholders that are in a state of shock allow this very thing to happen all across the world, every day of the year. It's hard to imagine that most people have human instincts to count their "change" from a cashier at the store or diligently review dinner bills, line by line, to make sure the waiter or waitress did not bill them for additional items. We all do it. We're sure to go out of our way to track and count life's little chump change. However, when it comes to fire insurance claim damages exceeding tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars, without ay questions we rely on the insurance company.

No one knows your property like you do. There is much to do to properly prepare and configure a fire insurance claim that in most instances, items are forgotten or missed during the process. Especially if it's done by someone at your insurance company. They don't know about your building, your property, or your contents (furniture, clothing, etc.) like you do. How could they possibly be as accurate as you? Furthermore, just because an insurance company adjuster visits your property for an inspection does not mean they are a professional contractor, builder, or certified in fire and water damage restoration.

With the review of thousands of closed claims, we have found that in most cases, both insurance companies and policyholders unknowingly miss damages that are hidden from the naked eye. In almost all instances; it is a good idea to have a professional review your fire damage claim. Preferably a fire insurance claims appraiser, consultant, or fire consulting firm.

Unknowingly policyholders often assume that when their insurance company sends them money and they deposit the funds in their bank account that the claim is closed. This is not true at all. The fact is; in most states the policyholder has up to 3-years to submit a claim and even the same time to ADD damages to an existing claim. So, the answer is yes, you can have a professional review your claim to see if you have been properly compensated, during the claims process or even years after the claim has been closed. Policyholders can also obtain more insurance proceeds from claims - even if the building has been torn down, demolished, and/or removed.

It's true, even if claims have been settled and all insurance proceeds have been deposited, or the building has been torn down and removed, policyholders can recover more insurance proceeds if the damages were missed or not addressed properly. In most cases, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of more dollars are recovered... AFTER the insurance company has closed the claim. Even policyholders that believe they have received a fair settlement... they usually have not.

However, it's truly up to the policyholders to do their part and protect themselves. Below are a few tips and ideas to assist policyholders with the review of their fire insurance claims. There are tips for those in the middle of the claim process - as well as tips for claims that have been closed some time ago.

1. Existing Claim -

1. Document Your Building Damage: Take the time to inspect and document the damages yourself. Take photos of all damaged rooms in your building. Take overviews of the room and then take some close-up photos of the damaged ceilings, walls, floors, windows, doors, etc. of that room as well. Work your way around the building to the left (clock wise). Before entering the next room, closet, or hall - take an overview. This will be an easy way to organize which photos belong to which rooms. An example is; Overview of living room, then from top to bottom, photos of ceiling, walls, windows, doors, then the floor. Then the first photo of the next room is an overview, and so on. (No pictures or close-ups of contents yet, just the rooms.)

1. For Closed Claims -

1. Obtain Documentation Of The Building: Insurance adjusters visit the property to gather measurements and photos of the damage. If you have no photographs yourself, or a limited amount of pics - request that the insurance company send you all photographs that were taken by the adjuster. You should also request the complete estimate and diagram/sketch they used to arrive at the square footage and repair numbers. This type of documentation will be critical for you to have, as well as if the need arises for the fire insurance claim appraiser you choose.

2. Existing Claim -

2. Document Contents Damage: You will now want to visit each room and closet once again. This time you will be collecting an inventory of your contents. In the same manner you did with the rooms; you should take an overview picture of each piece of furniture, each pair of shoes, each shirt, pants, ect. After the overviews you then take a close-up picture of any damages to that item. (Like smoke or water stains, etc.) Write each individual item down on a Contents Inventory Form. ( Request one by visiting http://www.insuranceclaimsgroup.com/contact-us.html ) The manner in which you take your photos will also help organize them. For Example; Take the overview picture of the room you are about to enter. In this example; let's say the living room. Your should then continue your way around the room to the left (clockwise). Capture pictures and list each item on each wall until you get back to where you began. It's important not to bounce around the room. This ensures that items will not be forgotten or missed. When the living room inventory has been pictured, listed, and completed, move into the next room. Again, start with an overview picture of that new room. This helps organize the contents by what room they were in. Be sure to list the name of the room on each page of the inventory list. Now the pictures and the lists are both sequenced and organized with each other.

2. For Closed Claims -

2. Obtain Documents Of Your Contents Damage: The insurance adjuster has taken photos of your contents during their inspection as well. If you have no photos yourself, or minimal photos - then request all photos taken by the adjuster of your contents. You should also request the complete detailed contents inventory they have written to arrive at their numbers. This documentation will be useful for the fire insurance claim consultant you choose.

3. Existing Claim -

3. Review Policy: Fire claim victims should always take time to read and review their insurance policies. Moss people have no idea of the basics, like; How much building allowance they? How much allowance for contents (clothing, furniture, electronics, etc.)? How much allowance to rent a home, rent furniture, or to stay in a hotel? Surprisingly, most policyholders have limited or absolutely no knowledge of such information. Usually this type of documentation gets destroyed in the fire. If such; people should visit their agents office and request a "certified true copy" of the policy they own. One should also ask the agent to advise how much coverage they hold for their property.

3. For Closed Claims -

3. Obtain Copy Of Your Policy: Contact your insurance company and request a certified copy of your "FULL" insurance policy, including the Declarations page. This documentation will be useful for the fire insurance claim consultant you choose.

4. Existing Claim -

4. Consult With A Professional: The insurance companies have their adjuster visit your property, inspect your damages, and complete estimates on the amount of damage you have incurred. It's very important you have the same exact process completed yourself. How does a policyholder know the insurance company adjuster has done their job correctly? Should you be willing to give up tens of thousands of dollars by not taking steps to be sure? The insurance adjuster should explain all the fire insurance claim coverage's that is available to you, however, such information is rarely disclosed. Sometimes it is even done on purpose, and on other occasions it's also done on purpose (Did you read that? Forgetting to advise you of certain coverage's is usually withheld until you ask. More often than not; it's done on purpose.) It is your belongings, it is your money, and it is your policy. You must educate yourself to ensure you're being fully compensated for the fire damages. You should consider hiring a fire insurance claim professional. Someone who can look out for you and review the insurance company's value of your loss. You need to be in-the-know by obtaining your own "real-world" costs and estimates to repair or replace your property.

4. For Closed Claims -

4. Consult A Independent Insurance Appraiser: Have you been provided with a fair settlement? How is a person sure they have unless they consult with a professional? Anyone who is not 100% sure if they have obtained fair and full settlement from an insurance company, owes it to themselves to investigate. If policyholders have collected and reviewed all the docs and photos that are listed above; they have sufficient documentation to consult the opinion of an independent appraiser and insurance professional. A professional review of your claim documentation is all an independent insurance appraiser needs to advise if you were treated fairly. To consider leaving yourself in the dark, with no flashlight in sight, without knowing if you're forfeiting tens of thousands and/or hundreds of thousands of dollars in the insurance company's pocket - doesn't make much sense at all. The minimal fee it would take to understand where you stand is a very tiny cost to pay. Compare that same tiny cost to a large chunk of insurance funds that you weren't even aware existed... is a no-brainer.

(Free Consultation: Getting help is easier than you think. We provide a no cost review of any present or closed insurance files. Call for your Free Consultation at any time 919-669-9111. Or visit online at http://www.insuranceclaimsgroup.com/contact-us.html )

The reasons are clear and simple. The facts are this, the adjusters work directly for the insurance company, where the fire claims appraiser or consultant works directly for you. You already made the right choice by making sure you were properly insured. It is now up to you to continue with the next steps. That is to research that you have properly compensated for the policy you paid for.

About the Author

Copyright of Insurance Claims Group, Inc. & Joseph P. Brennan: Joe Brennan is President and owner-operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. Joe has been in the property loss business for more than 24-years. His loss experience began as a contractor - builder, which included water and fire damage restoration repair services. After 20-years of insurance restoration estimating and repair experience, Mr. Brennan became a licensed independent insurance claims adjuster. Joe has maintained his IICRC Certification in both Fire and Water Restoration and also maintains active adjuster licenses in 10-states. Throughout his career, he has handled many multi-million dollar losses, both commercial and residential. The amount of combined experience and knowledge of new construction, damage repairs, and insurance claims handling has advanced his ability to act as a Dispute Appraiser and Appraisal Umpire. Mr. Brennan is highly educated with the appraisal process and has acted as an appraiser and umpire on dozens of claims. Mr. Brennan can be reached at;


Insurance Claims Group, Inc.

2054 Kildaire Farm Rd., Suite # 426

Cary, NC 27518

Ph: 919-669-9111

Fx: 919-573-9595

Web: http://www.insuranceclaimsgroup.com , http://www.insurance-appraisal-servies.com & http://www.fireinsuranceclaims.net



Copyright of Insurance Claims Group, Inc. & Joseph P. Brennan: You may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact.

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So you are thinking about protecting yourself with a home insurance. But what different types of home insurance are there and which one is the best for you?

This is a very important question you should know. So this guide will help you find out about your best options and how to use each.

Here are the most common types of homeowners insurances...
Home Insurance #1: Homeowner's Insurance

So you have a home and want to protect it? Then this insurance is essential for you.

Homeowner's insurance protects your home itself. So if anything happens to it, you can rest assured you will get the money back. For example a fire, earthquake, flood, and so on.

You can find out more about this type of insurance and how you can easily protect yourself in this helpful article about homeowners insurance free tips.
Home Insurance #2: Home Contents Insurance

So you have protected your home itself, but what about everything inside it?

It's amazing how many people spend their life and their hard-earned money buying and collecting the best house furniture, the latest in technological gadgetry, and a lot more... yet they forget to get any protection for them.

So by a simple accident, like earthquake or fire, or a burglary they lose all their valuable belongings in their home.

Find out more about home contents insurance in this free helpful guide.
How to Choose Which Insurance to Use?

Here's an easy way to choose which type of home insurance is best for you...

Ask yourself in case of anything happening, what will be harder to replace? Your home itself or your items and belongings in your home?

Because for some people their home is the most valuable thing and for some people who may have a simple house but lots of expensive items in it, their house items may be of the most value.

But overall, it's highly recommended you protect both your home and your home contents.

It's easy and the investment for the insurance won't be anything comparing to how much you'll have to pay without the insurance if anything happens.

Spare changeGeographical location can play a part in what a person may end up paying for coverage and finding affordable automobile coverage can be a challenge in such areas. This is especially true for those that reside cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, etc. This is because these cities are highly congested with many vehicles occupying the roadways that cause the risks of traffic accidents to be much higher The way that insurers look at it is; the more automobiles around ,the riskier it is for them to insure drivers

Aside from congested roadways, certain areas may have high crime rates which may cause the price of Comprehensive coverage to rise. It is not only the law to have coverage in most states in order to operate vehicles legally, but it can also help motorists from suffering huge financial burdens and legal action if they are the cause of an accident while driving uninsured. For this very reason, motorists should take the time to find affordable auto insurance not only to abide by the law, but to protect themselves as well.

Document, pen and glassesPractically any driver or vehicle owner who resides in the United States and wishes to operate an automobile must purchase a car insurance policy to do so legally. There is the issue of carrying the prior documentation at times when needed. Although there are many states that do not require individuals to carry proof of coverage at all times, it may be a good idea as a precautionary measure and under certain circumstances, one may be glad that they did.

Many states have implemented a law in which motorists are required to show proof of auto insurance under a number of scenarios. The most recent being the state of Wisconsin, beginning June 1, 2010 the state now allows a police officer to ask a driver to furnish documentation during a routine traffic stop proving that they are indeed insured; failure to provide the necessary paperwork can end in a $10 fine. Although such a minimal fine can be seen as laughable, most do not wish to part with $10 for something as little as forgetting to put a piece of paper in their car. Other states do not take this law as lightly as WI and some will even go so far as to tow a motor vehicle away for failure to comply with the state’s laws.

MaineThe Pine Tree State mandates that all drivers are covered by a liability policy. As stated by the Maine auto insurance laws, motorists are required to have at least the following limits as a minimum; $50,000 for bodily injury to one person, $100,000 for bodily injury to two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage or a combined limit of $125,000. These limits were put into place to cover the injuries and damages caused to a third party by a policyholder and compared to many states, these limits are much higher than the norm.

The bodily injury portion of a policy will pay for the injuries of a third party that are sustained when caused by a policyholder. This can also pay for such items as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The property damage portion helps pay for the cost of damages caused to property such as an automobile, fence or house while behind the wheel of the insured’s automobile. Liability policies will also cover bodily injury and property damage if a member of a household who is covered by the policy or a person who is borrowing the vehicle with the permission of the policyholder.

Teen driverA teenager is usually going to find it an uphill battle when looking for an affordable rate for car insurance, but the truth of the matter is that if they wish to drive, they must be insured. This is why it is extremely important for these youths to take the time to understand why they are considered such a high risk to insure by providers and become knowledgeable of the many ways that a premium can be lowered in order to get covered at a reasonable rate.

Most parents dread the time it comes to buy auto insurance for teenagers and the teen may dread the fact even more if they will be held responsible for footing the bill, but as they begin to shop around it will become quite obvious that one company’s premium can differ substantially from another’s and obtaining quotes from as many carriers as possible can be the best chance at getting the best rate. A teenager lacks the experience behind the wheel compared to a middle aged driver and statistics show that this results in a higher crash involvement per mile driven. Therefore, insurers charge a bit more to cover youths, but there are ways to save

MichiganThe Wolverine State requires residents to purchase quite a bit of coverage to satisfy the legal requirements to operate a vehicle. Unfortunately, this translates into higher premiums for motorists and residents of Detroit are paying some of the highest premiums in the nation and finding it almost impossible to keep automobiles insured. Similar to states such as New York, which residents also pay a hefty amount for insurance, MI requires multiple levels of coverage in hopes to best protect its residents.

The Michigan auto insurance requirements mandate that as a minimum all operators must carry a policy that includes Personal Injury Protection (PIP), Property Protection (PPI), Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability (BI/PD). A policy such as this will be needed to register a vehicle and obtain license plates and with such extensive coverage needed, one can see why the cost to become insured can be quite expensive. States such as California only require policies containing bodily injury and property damage liability. The difference is that MI is a “No-Fault” state with required coverage that provides compensation to policyholders regardless of who is at fault for causing the traffic accident and CA policies cover the other party if an insured causes a collision. No-fault states use this system in hopes to keep lawsuits from being filed since payment is readily available.

A symbol of a comparisonWhen it comes to finding a good policy, it is almost always suggested that the consumer should take the time to compare companies to find the best and most affordable coverage. There are many ways to go about completing effective comparisons in order to find a reliable insurer. Many people like to visit offices in person, call various carriers or in more recent years, jump online and begin comparing.

Online comparisons have been becoming very popular in the last few years. In fact, a recent study showed that 63% of people surveyed had visited a website to get a quote. The main reason behind this is most likely the convenience. By visiting a car insurance comparison website, individuals can input their basic information about the drivers and vehicles to be insured and once submitted they will be able to view multiple quotes from various insurers that they can choose from. This can save a lot of time compared to contacting individual carriers and is not only quick and easy, it is also free and requires no obligation to purchase a policy.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance

With the rising costs of fuel and just about every other good or service we purchase, many of us are looking for cheap car insurance. When it comes to cheap car insurance most of us are clueless as to how to go about getting a low cost car insurance policy. There are many factors that influence your car insurance costs drastically.

For example, did you know that the type of car you drive will influence the cheap car insurance you're looking for? Or did you know that using anti theft devices will help reduce your over all car insurance costs? A good driving record will allow you to get cheap car insurance?

The deductible is the amount you pay first out of any claim for an accident. The car insurance policy's cost is directly related to your deductible. A lot of people, especially those with a good driving record, who have had their insurance policy for a long time, have never considered varying their deductible. If you have a clean driving record and are prepared for the risk of paying a larger amount in the event of a claim you can save money by increasing your deductible.

Many times you can get cheap car insurance by combining policies with you existing insurance company. For example if you have a home owners insurance policy contact them and ask for discounts for switching your car insurance to them. If you don't own a home perhaps you have renters insurance or life insurance, contact these companies about the savings you could get by switching your car insurance over to them. Most insurance companies are very accommodating to these requests.

It also pays to shop online for your cheap car insurance; many of the big companies offer a comparison of their coverage versus other companies. As you are requesting cheap car insurance quote online be sure to be completely truthful in answering the questionnaire. Additionally, you should know when you get your online quote you will need to follow up with actual paper work.

Whatever your motivation, with a little work you too can find the cheap car insurance you're looking for.

Jeff Kimball is an independent business writer and the author of A1 Cheap Car Insurance.com

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About the Author
Jeff Kimball is an independent business writer and the webmaster of A1 Cheap Car Insurance.com

What In The World Is Kit Car Insurance?

If you are fortunate enough to be an owner of a kit car, then you also know that from day one you need kit car insurance. If you're rebuilding your car, you will need kit car insurance from the first piece that's shipped in to the last when it's all assembled and beyond. There are insurance companies that will provide coverage every step of the way when it comes to kit cars. They have tailored made car insurance to cover your every need.

Such an insurance company can offer you a "goods in transit" kit car insurance policy to cover you collecting from the manufacturer through the building process and on the road. This is what makes them different than the general automobile insurance companies. They can provide coverage for those of you that have parts of your car waiting in your garage to be assembled providing you with peace of mind with this type of car insurance.

Of course owning a collector's car is not always fun and games. Most of the kit car insurance policies stipulate that your collector's car can only be driven 2500 miles in a year. This is where the kit car insurance differs from the general automobile insurance companies. Some of these general insurance companies will extend the mileage to 5000 miles a year depending on your needs. If you have a car show that is 2500 miles for a return trip that would mean you would have no mileage left for the rest of the year. Whereas if the mileage is doubled then you could take your car to the show and still have lots of mileage left for those quick trips you want to take.

Whether you are building your car or taking it out for it's first spin you need kit car insurance to let you drive without worry. After all this is your baby and you have invested a lot of money into your dream car. So why not have it fully covered with car insurance? You will feel so much better as you drive down the road with all those eyes upon you admiring the piece of workmanship that you are driving.

If you're building a kit car you need kit car insurance.


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About the Author
For a website all about Car Insurance visit Peter's Website Car Insurance Answers at http://www.car-insurance-answers.com/ and find out about Car Insurance as well as Cheap Car Insurance at http://www.car-insurance-answers.com/cheap-car-insurance.html and more, including Online Car Insurance Quotes, Car Insurance Rates and UK Car Insurance.

Insurance Haters Anonymous

Hello, my name is Chris, and I hate insurance. My father hated insurance before me, and for all I know his father before him. More...Kind of a family tradition I suppose. I have insurance for my home, insurance for my car, insurance for my life, insurance for my boat, insurance for my kids, insurance for my health, insurance for my teeth, insurance for my prescriptions, insurance for my bank loans, and insurance for when I travel. Wow! It's a wonder, I don't have insurance for my insurance. Don't laugh, I'm sure I heard somewhere that there is an insurance company that insures other insurance companies. Someone must be making a killing off of all this. The only insurance I don't have these days, is pet insurance. Only because we don't have a pet, and the kids are lobbying hard on that front.

Why Do We Hate Insurance So?

Everyone hates insurance, because it always feels like we never get anything in return for it. Normally, when I buy something, I get to walk out the door with it, or hear it, or see it, or just plain enjoy it. Insurance does none of that. It certainly seems like a pretty one sided deal. "Thank you for the cheque Mr Campbell. Oh, and just to be sure, we'll be taking a little more next month, and the month after and the month after that. Have a nice day." Great I think. And do I get to enjoy anything for writing all those cheques. Nope, but don't worry your very securely insured now. I cringe just thinking about how much I've spent on insurance over the years. And, feel even worse when I think how little the insurance companies have actually paid out to me. In hindsight, it seems like just a really bad investment. I feel like I've been buying stock in all these crappy companies over the years that just keep going bankrupt. The biggest scam of all, is that most people who buy insurance, are paranoid to actually file an insurance claim, because their rates will skyrocket. Not to mention that all those previously oh-so-friendly insurance company employees treat you like a leper, who just ran over their puppy three times, and stole all their kids halloween candy.

What Is Your Deepest Fear?

We all want guarantees, we all want to know everything is going to be alright. We hope that things remain status quo, and their are no major disruptions in our lives. That's what insurance buys. Peace of mind. Protection from the unknown. Salvation from disaster. And when it works, that's great. Insurance is kind of a socialist sort of thing. Everybody chips in a little bit to protect the unfortunate. And that's good. I do feel better, if I think of my insurance premiums saving someone else from a life altering disaster. And the optimist in me believes that is what truly happens most of the time. It's when insurance companies refuse to pay out for people that really need it, the irks me the most. Especially when it's done just to line the pockets of shareholders and greedy CEO's. That's really not what insurance is for. So, be smart with your insurance purchases, and remember, we're all in this together.

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About the Author
For more on insurance visit http://insuranceinformationonline.com or read other insurance articles at http://foolishmumbles.com/category/insurance/